After 79 days -- 1,896 hours -- of anticipation, the time has finally come for The University of Texas at Tyler family, and the nation, to watch Will Edmond’s television debut.

Edmond, a UT Tyler junior journalism major, will appear on the game show Deal or No Deal at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31 on the NBC network.

A viewing party will be hosted by the Campus Activities Board in the UT Tyler Herrington Patriot Center gymnasium. It is open to all UT Tyler students.

The party will include food and games, and students will watch the show on a large screen in the 2,000-seat facility.

“We wanted to give the students something fun to do,” said Carey O’Kelly student development specialist and advisor to C.A.B. “Will’s not the only one that’s going to win big.”

At 6 p.m. on Jan. 29, students have a chance to win prizes at UT Tyler’s versions of Deal or No Deal, and at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 students will play, “Will” of Fortune.

“I expect to have a great turn out, a lot of students from campus housing and students who went to Hollywood with me will be there,” said Edmond.

After auditioning in Shreveport in July 2006, the Douglasville native was selected out of 2000 other participants to be a contestant on the show.

UT Tyler, in conjunction with NBC, provided transportation for 97 students and three chaperones to go to Hollywood to be a part of the studio audience.

The object of Deal or No Deal is to eliminate low money amounts through a series of random selections, in hopes that you will choose the ultimate prize of $1 million.

Neither Edmond nor the UT Tyler entourage was allowed to discuss his monetary outcome following the taping. It will be revealed at the viewing – and in millions of households nationwide.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of nearly 6,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.